Multiplex autographic register



y 1930- A. w. METZNER 1,760,847

' MULTIPLEX AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed April 25, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 27, 1930. A. w. METZNER 1,760,847

. MULTIPLEX AUTOGRAPHIG REGISTER Filed April 25, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 7, 1930. A. w. METZNER 1,760,847

MULT I FLEX AUTOGRAPHIC REGI STER Filed April 25, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 s'r TEs 'rrlcis ALBERT W. METZNER, F DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD REGISTER OOMPANY, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO MULTIPLEX AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER,

Application filed April 25,

My invention relates to autographic registers, and more particularly, to a multiple register wherein any one of a plurality of record strips may be advanced at will by a common actuator. A

In many mercantile and manufacturing establishments it is desirable to employ a recferent color for different transactions or slips having different imprints thereon, as for example, orders for different classes of merchandise or orders pertaining to different departments. It is not practical, convenient, nor efficient to employ numerous separate or independent registers for such purposes. To meet such requirements, there has been provided, as in the present instance, a single register .housing having'thereina plurality of openings, past which separate record strips may be independently advanced to receive entries thereon. Separate independently operable strip feeding mechanism is asso ciated with each of the housing openings, but only a single actuating means is provided, Which is common to all of the strip feeding mechanisms. In order that other strips may not be disarranged while one of the strips is being advanced detent means is provided for looking the several strip feeding mechanisms not in operation. Manually operable setting means is provided by which a selected strip feeding mechanism may be operatively connected with the actuating means to ad- Vance the associated record strips. The specific mechanism herein illustrated consists of a plurality of pin wheels mounted upon a common rotary shaft operatively engaging successions of perforations in the record strips. Axially movable clutch means carried upon the rotary shaft is movable into and out of notches in the hub of the pin wheel feeding devices. Spring actuated plungers normally engage in the same notches to hold the pin wheels against rotation and are 1928. Serial No. 272,689.

ejected therefrom b the entrance of the clutch element. T is clutch element is shifted by a manually operable setting lever projecting, exteriorily of the housing.

The ob ect of the invention is to simplify the construction, as well as the means and mode of operation of autographic registers, whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be positive in operation, uniform in action, easily controlled, and unlikely to get out of repair.

-A further object of the invention is to provide a multiple autographic register having a single actuator means and selecting means by which any one of the several mechanisms may be independently connected with the actuating means.

A further object of the invention is to provide locking means for a plurality of autographic reglster mechanisms and means for automatically disengaging the locking detent by the operative connection of such mechanism with the actuating means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple control means common to a plurality of autographic registers.

1th the above primary and other incidental objects'in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention con sists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

' Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred, but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invent-ion, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a duplex autographic register embodying the features of the present invention. Fig. 2

is a top plan view of the duplex register shown in Fig. I with the cover of the housing removed. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the strip feeding mechanism and the clutch means for alternately connecting the strip feeding mechanism with the actuator shaft and locking the unconnected mechanism I against movement. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the detent and connecting means illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating clutch means for connecting any one of a plurality of autographic registers greater than two, with a common actuator shaft. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the pinwheel and clutch in a partially rotated position, before the clutch member has come into registry with the spring-pressed detent. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the clutch member in engagement with the spring pressed detent whereb it elevates the detentat the beginning o the strip feeding operation and at the end of the strip feeding operation the reaction of the spring detent serves to disengage the clutch member. Fig. 8 is a detail end view of the construction shown in Fig. 5.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters \of reference throughout the several views. I

Referring to the drawing, 1 is a housing or cabinet, having in a cover 2, a plurality of spaced openings 3. In the present instance only two such spaced openings have been illustrated. However, it is to be understood that the cabinet may be extended to include any desired number of independently operable register mechanisms. Located beneath and in registry with the openings 3 are a plurality of writing tablets 4 over which are intermittently advanced record strips to receive entries which may be written thereon through the cover openings 3. Supply portions of such record strips in either rolls or folded packet form as is customary, are contained within thecabinet or housing 1, beneath the writing tablets 4. The record strips are fed from such rolls or packets over guide rollers 4. For illustrative purpose there has been shown a conventional and well-known form of record strip'and feeding mechanism therefor, wherein the strip is provided with parallel series of spaced perforations 5 adjacent to its opposite margins, successively engaged by peripheral pins 6 upon properly spaced rotary pin wheels 7 The pin wheels pertaining to each record strip are fixedly connected to each other by an intermediate sleeve 8 thus forming a spool like structure, which upon rotation advances the record strip over the writing tablet 4 past the access opening 3. These strip feeding pin wheel spools are mounted in axial alignment with each other upon a common revoluble actuating shaft 9. As shown in the drawings, the pin wheel spools are provided with terminal hubs journalled in spaced parallel partitions 11 of the housing or cabinet 1, whereby they are revolubly supported independent of the actuator shaft which is free for rotation within the bearings of the pin wheel spools. The actuating shaft 10 may be either motor driven or hand operated. For illustrative purposes in the present instance, the actuator shaft 10 is shown provided with a hand crank exteri orily of the cabinet 1 by which-it may be manually rotated. For disclosure of such alternative motor driven actuating means reference is made to U. S. Letters Patent 1,437,949, issued December 5, 1922, and also to co-pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 24,193, filed April 18, 1925.

' Each of the strip feeding pin wheel spools has one enlarged hub 13 havin in the lateral face thereof a radially dispose slot 14. This slot is duo functional. Suitably mounted upon the partitions 11 of the cabinet 1 is a spring pressed detent plunger 15 having a tapered or inclined head which normally engages within the slot 14 to lock the pin wheel spools against rotation. There is a separate spring'actuated detent provided for each pinwheel spool. In the duplex register illustrated in- Figs. 1 to 4, these slotted hubs are upon adjacent ends of the spaced strip feeding spools. Splined upon the actuator shaft 10 intermediate the respective strip feeding pin wheel spools is a clutch collar 16 having at each end a beveled clutch tooth or lug 17 for engagement in the slots 14 of the res ectiv'e strip feeding'pin wheel spools. ormally this clutch collar is positioned in the strip feeding spool and out of engagement with both of such devices. It shifts to and, fro upon the actuator shaft 10 by means of a shift lever 18 pivoted to its bracket arm 19 secured to one of the cabinet partitions 11.

As befci e mentioned the spring actuated detent plungers 15 are normally engaged in the ends of the slots 14 of the pin wheel spools.

Upon oscillation of the shift lever 18 the clutch collar 16 is reci rocated upon the shaft 10, causing one or tli teeth or lugs 17 to be projected intothe slot 14 of theadjacent pin wheel spool 12. In entering th slot 15 the cam tooth or lug 17 of the clutc collar engages the beveled end of the detent plunger to elevate the plunger out of engagement with the hub of the in wheel spool. The rotation of the shaft 10 with which the spoolis interconnected through the clutch collars rotates the pin wheel spool to move the slot out of registry with the plunger 15, which thereupon rides upon the periphery of the hub 13 until a complete revolution of the spool has been effected. As the rotation of the pin wheel spool is completed the end of the slot is again brought into registry with the spring actuated plunger 15 which entering into such slot under the influence of its actuating spring exerts a camming action upon the tooth or lug of the clutch collar, thereby forcing the clutch out of engagement with the pin wheel hub and releasing the feedin 10. T e sprin of the detent plunger thus performs a dou 1e function of actuating the detent plunger into engagement with the pin wheel hub whenever the slot 14 is brought mechanism from the actuator shaft e other of the clutch into registry therewith by the rotation of the matically disengages the clutch connection, returning the clutch collar to its intermediate normal inoperative position. By the oscillation of the shift lever 18, first in one direction and then in the other, the operative connection of the respective strip feeding mechanisms with the actuator shaft 10. may be alternated. The clutch does not remain engaged, but as described is automatically disengaged at the completion of each strip feeding operation so that it is necessary to set the shift lever 18 preparatory to each feeding of a record strip. Upon the direction in which the shift lever ismoved will depend the particular record strip to be advanced upon the subsequent rotation of the actuator shaft 10. Obviously, in an establishment wherein such record entries will be made at frequent intervals the actuator shaft 10 may be continuously rotated by a driving motor. In such case, the mere operation of the shift lever 18 will be sufficient to effect the feeding of the record strip andthe issue of a ticket or slip without other manual effort. Likewise, in

g the case of a motor driven apparatus, a motor switch may be operatively connected with the shift lever 18 so that its movement in either direction will set the motor in operation. Thus the entire selecting and feeding operation may be placed under control of the single shift lever 18. Overlying the pin wheels is a transverse clamp bar 21 controlled by rotary cam flanges 32 on the ends of the pin wheel spools whereby this clamp bar 21 is elevated to prevent free movement of the record slips therebeneath during the feeding operation and is subsequentl released to clamp the paper at the end 0 such feeding operation. This clamp bar 21 has a further function of keeping the perforated record strips in operative engagement with the peripheral pins of the pin wheel feeding device, which project within slots 23 in the ends of the clamp bar. This clamp bar construction, which forms no part of the present invention, is fully shown and described in co-pcnding application, Ser. No. 747,101, filed Oct. 31, 1924. At the forward end of the access openings 3 the cabinet cover 2 is depressed as at 24, to which depressed portion is hinged a deflector plate 25 which may be interposed between the overlying record strips in order to deflect from the machine the uppermost strip or strips, portions of which are torn ofi against thedepressible clamp bar 21 in the form of separate slips at the end of each registering or feeding operation. To afford multiple copies a plurality of record strips .are superposed one upon the other fed in unison over the writing tablet 4, and beneath the clamp bar 21, the perforations of which are simultaneously engaged by the peripheral pins of the pin wheel feeding devices. In terleaved between the record strips are strips of carbon or transfer paper, which are fed scribed. The hubs are formed with a from a roll 26 supported at one side of the writin tablet 4 upon suitable bracket arms 27 pro ecting from the cabinet artitions 11'. Such strips of carbon or transfer paper are fed transversely of the writing tablet ininterleaved relation between the succeeding record strips and are received upon a reel shaft 28, mounted in suitable brackets 29 at the opposite side of the writing tablet 4. There is a carbon supply roll and a receiving reel shaft provided for each of the strip feeding mechanisms. The reel shafts 28 are provided with heads 30 exteriorly of the cabinet 1 by which the shafts may be rotated to advance the carbon strips between the superposed record strips to present a fresh surface by which the entry made upon the topmost strip may be duplicated on the underlying reoord strips.

The alternating driving means heretofore described applies to a duplex register having two strip feeding mechanisms to be alternately controlled. However, in the event that a greater number of such strip feeding mechanisms are to be embodied in a single register apparatus, a somewhat different construction embodying, however, the same principle of operation is employed. Such actuating means for any number of strip feeding mechanisms in excess of two is shown in Fig. 5. In this construction the actuator shaft 10 is longitudinally slotted and in this slot is mounted a reciprocatory cam bar 31. The margin of the bar 31 is coincident with or flush with the peripheral surface of the actuator shaft 10 except for the presence of cam ears or lugs 32 located at spaced intervals. Any number of strip feeding pin wheel spools may be mounted upon the actuator shaft 10 and enclosing the reciprocatory cam bar 31, seated therein. The interior of the connecting sleeve 8 of the pin wheels 12 is recessed at 33. The hubs of these pin wheel spools are provided with key slots 34 in lieu of the slots 14 before de- 6.. ripheral shoulder or rabbet 35 which is 1ntersected by the slot 34. The same detent plunger 15 is employed, the end of which engages in the exposed portion of the slot 34 within the rabbet 35 when the pin wheel spool is in its normal position. The cam ears 32 upon the reciprocatory bar 31 are located at spaced intervals difierent from the spacing of the pin wheel strip feeding spools. As the cam bar 31 is reciprocated within its seating slot in the actuator shaft 10, these ears or key portions may pass through the slots 34 into the interior of the spools or be projected out of the slot 34 beyond the hub of the spool. The relation of these cams or key ears 32 is such that only one will be engaged with its corresponding strip feeding spool at a given time. When one of these key ears is positioned within the slot 34 of one gagement with a collar 37 surrounding thepin wheel hub the key ears pertaining to the other spools will be located either within the chamber 33 within the spool or will be positioned exteriorily of the spool and beyond the hub thereof. By longitudinall sliding the bar 31 .to difierent degrees, di ferent cam or key ears 32 may be brought to operating engagement with the slot 34 of the corresponding pin wheel spool hub. A shift lever 36 is provided having operative enactuator shaft 10 and is positioned intermediate two spaced lugs 0r ears 38 projecting from the reciprocatory bar 31. Thus by oscillating the shift lever 36 to different degrees reciprocatory movement is transmitted to the bar 31 to move such bar varying distances whereby some one or another of the, cam or key cars 32 is operatively engaged within the slot 34 of itscorresponding pin wheel spool. This construction is such that the actuator shaft 10 may be extended to any reasonable distance to receive any suitable number of record strip feeding spools, any one of which may be operated independently of the others by the adjustment of the set lever 36 to a Corresponding position. As the cam or key ears 32 enter the slot 34 from either direction they engage and eject from such slot the detent plunger 15. This plunger is immediately returned to the slot upon the passing of the key or cam car 32 therefrom.

From the above description it will be ap- 'parent that there is thus provided a construction' of the character described, possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, and arrangement of parts, without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention is described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction'herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into'effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an autographic register, a housing having spaced openings therein, past which separate record strips are to be intermittently advanced to receive entries vthereon, each of said strips having therein a succession of spaced perforations, a rotary pin wheel associated with each housing opening and engageable with the perforations of the corresponding record strips to advance the strips upon rotation of the pin wheels, 21. revoluble shaft common to'the several pin wheels upon which the pin wheels are mounted for free relative rotation of said shaft, a notched hub on each pin wheel, a clutch member carried by the shaft and movable into and out of the shaft, for unison rotation, means for adjusting the clutch to effect the operative connection of different pin wheels with the revoluble shaft and means for rotating the shaft.

2. In an autographic register, having a plurality of writing tablets arranged side by side, a, plurality of record strip feeding devices, one for each writing tablet for inde pendently feeding separate record strips thereover, a drive shaft common to the plurality of strip feeding devices, means for rotating the shaft selective means, clutch means controlled thereby for singly connecting the respective strip feeding devices with the drive shaft, and locking means controlled by the clutch means for locking the unconnected feeding devices against movement.

3. In an autographic register, a single housinghavin in its top spaced openings, means for fee ing separate record strips in registry with said openings to receive entries therethrough, operating means for said strip feeding means, and a manually operable setting-element common to the feeding means for the separate strips for connecting the operating means therewith to actuate the feeding means singly to advance one record strip in ependent of the other.

4. In an autographic register, having a plurality of writing tablets, a plurality of record strip feeding devices for independently feeding separate record strips over the respective writing tablets, actuating means common to the plurality of strip feeding devices, selective means, clutch means controlled thereby for separately connecting the strip feeding devices with the actuating means whereby said feedin devices will be actuated singly and a shi t element by which the clutch means may be disconnected from one feeding device and operatively connected with another.

5. In an autographic register, a housing having spaced openings therein, two independently operable sets of record strip feeding mechanism for intermittently advancing record strips past saidopenings, actuating means common to the independent operable sets of strip feeding mechanism, selective means for operatively connecting said strip feeding mechanisms alternately therewith and detentmeans for the strip feeding mechanism automatically disengaged by the con-- nection of the strip feeding mechanism with the actuating means.

6. In an autographic register, a housing having spaced openings therein, two independently operable sets of record strip-feed- 1ng mechanism for intermittently advancing record strips past said openings, locking means therefor for holding said feeding mechanism against 0 eration, actuating means common to the in ependently operable means for progressively adjusting the clutch means from one strip feeding mechanism to another for connecting the mechanisms successively with the actuating means.

8. In an autographic register mechanism, a plurality of independently operable strip feedingdevices, a'drive shaft common thereto, a clutch element slidingly adjustable upon' said shaft, an operating member for shifting the clutch-element out of engagement with one strip feeding device and into engagement with another, whereby different strip feeding devices may be successively engaged with the drive shaft for strip feeding operation.

9. In an autographic register, a plurality of independently operable strip feeding devices, a drive shaft common thereto for operating the strip feeding devices one at a time,

detent. means for locking the several strip feeding devices against operation, and manually operable selective means adapted to simultaneously unlock one of said strip feeding devices and operatively connect the unlocked device with the drive shaft.

10. In an autographic register, a plurality of independently operable 'striplfeeding devices, actuating means common t ereto for operating the strip feeding devices one at a time,

said devices for operative movement under influence of the actuating means.

12. In an autographic register, a plurality of independently operable strip feeding devices, actuating means common thereto for operating the strip feeding devices one at a time, a spring actuated detent for each strip feeding device, an adjustable clutch member into the path of adjustment of which the detent extends, said clutch by its adjustment being adapted to disengage the detent and operatively connect the strip feeding device with the actuating means. 7

13. In an autographic register, a revoluble strip feeding device, an actuating shaft upon which the feeding device is loosely mounted,

a lockingdetent normally holding the feed- 7 ing device against rotation, and a clutch member slidable upon the shaft into and out of engagement with the strip feeding device for connecting and disconnecting the feeding device with the shaft, and means on said clutch member for unlocking the feeding device upon its engagement therewith.

14. In an autographic register, an actuating shaft, a revoluble strip feeding device mounted thereon, said shaft beingnormally free of said feeding device for-independent rotation, said feeding device having a recessed hub, a spring plunger normally engaging in the recess of said hub to lock the feeding device against rotation, a clutch element slidingly movable upon said shaft into and out of operative coupling with said feeding device for transmitting rotation thereto, and a cam face upon said clutch element engagea'ble with said plunger for disengaging the plunger from the recess of the hub upon op erative engagement with the strip feeding device.

' ALBERT W. METZNER.

means for locking the strip feeding devices against operation, and means for selectivel unlocking one or another of the strip fee ing devices and operatively connecting it with the actuating means.

, 11. In an autographic register a plurality l of, independently operable stri feeding devices, actuating means common t ereto for operating the strip feeding devices one at a time, a spring actuated detent for each strip feedin device, a movable cam member engageab 6 singl with the detentsgf the different strip fee 'ng devices'to separately unlock 

